BSc (Hons) Natural History

Natural history is the study of organisms and the environments in which they live. This is a diverse and exciting subject that covers the study of animals, plants and their environments, along with earth and environmental sciences.

You’ll study diﬀerent organisms – how they are identified, their life history, relationships, behaviour and conservation. You'll also understand the processes that shape our land, coastlines and climate.

You’ll explore the diversity of life, wildlife management for conservation, animal biology, geo-sciences and environmental survey skills. Wildlife photography and film-making is another exciting part of the Natural History course. You’ll gain skills in still photography and film production.

Our Natural History degree has a strong practical field element for you to gain key skills in a range of environments. Presently, students go on field courses to Pembrokeshire, Portugal and Iceland, and on the optional Natural History expedition to Botswana where they learn tracking skills and 4x4 driving.

On our Natural History degree you will get to explore the diversity of life, wildlife management for conservation, marine biology and environmental survey skills. A key feature of this Natural History degree is gaining practical skills that you can apply on land, in freshwater environments and in the oceans. To develop these skills, you will go on a range of one-day and residential field courses operating in both the UK and overseas. Overseas field trips presently go to Portugal or Spain, Iceland and an optional module to Botswana. Wildlife photography and film-making is another exciting part of the course where you will develop your skills to produce a documentary.

Your first year modules aim to give you the underlying foundation knowledge in the subject areas that you will be pursuing. In the second year we explore biological, geo-physical and ecological themes whilst enabling you to choose an optional module in one of the subject areas.

The final year builds on your knowledge and skills, and again allows you to choose an optional module. During the final year you will undertake a substantial project of your choice. This can involve conducting an original scientific research project, or producing a documentary film or photographic portfolio.

Year One: Natural History Degree

Principles of Ecology

Evolutionary Botany and Zoology

The Dynamic Earth

Landform Systems

Digital Production for Natural History 1

Observational Fieldwork

Year Two: Natural History Degree

Ethology

Vertebrate Zoology

Biodiversity and Biogeography

GIS for Wildlife Conservation

Natural History Field Course

Options

Reconstructing Change

Digital Production for Natural History 2

The Evolving Earth

Year Three: Natural History Degree

Advanced Ecology

Marine and Freshwater Biology

Mediterranean Field Excursion

Natural History Research Project

Options

Natural History Field Expedition

Work-based Learning

Climate Change

We also offer a Foundation Year designed for applicants who do not meet the admissions criteria for the Natural History degree.

Teaching

You will learn from a combination of lectures, laboratory sessions, tutorials, practicals, and field trips. The number of hours of formal teaching will vary depending on your module choice and year of study.

The Natural History course has a focus of hands-on learning to ensure you gain practical survey and research skills. The degree also involves work in a variety of field settings both in the UK and overseas. Several modules are entirely fieldwork-based. Others involve lectures and laboratory work, including half or full day field excursions. The work placement and dissertation modules develop work-related skills and can involve organisations in various countries

Assessment

You will be assessed using a range of approaches depending on your module choice and year of study. A number of modules are assessed through a combination of examination and associated assignments, whilst other modules are continuously assessed through assignments. Your assignments can range from laboratory write-ups, open book tests, structured essays, oral presentations and field reports through to a photographic portfolio and field note books.

In your final year you will write a dissertation, worth two modules, based on a topic that you pick from a list of subjects or a topic of your choice which is developed in conjunction with your project supervisor.

Placements

The optional work-based learning module enables you to take a placement for up to four weeks, either in the UK or in some of the world’s exciting wildlife locations.

Field Trips

The Natural History degree is practically oriented and you will have opportunities to further develop practical skills by attending residential field courses. Current residential fieldwork destinations include Pembrokeshire, Portugal/Spain, Iceland and Botswana (optional). Additional costs may apply to field courses.

The Natural History Field Expedition module to Botswana is undertaken in a camp established to train wildlife trackers. As part of this optional module you will study the wildlife and ecology of the Mashatu region and develop your tracking skills. Please note, the exact locations of all overseas field trips may vary each year and are based on the area’s suitability.

The Natural History degree has modules with significant fieldwork elements, which come with certain physical demands. If you have a disability that is likely to be affected by physical demands, please get in touch with Dr Amelia Grass as soon as possible.

Facilities

By studying Natural History, you will benefit from the huge investment in facilities that has taken place at the University’s Glyntaff Campus. In addition to recently built and refurbished laboratories, the School has developed a state-of-the-art media room for natural history, plus you will have access to a range of media equipment including DSLR and video/film cameras that are dedicated to our Natural History students.

As well as making use of the great outdoors, our natural history students work in modern laboratories and classrooms. The Upper Glyntaff buildings comprise two distinct parts. Our new George Knox laboratories are part of a £15m investment in science for the University, meaning you will be taught in new and well-equipped spaces. These join the Grade II-listed Alfred Russell Wallace building, which is also used for teaching.

Lecturers

Natural History is a broad subject and you will be taught by experts in the different subject areas. However because staff are all based in one school and on one site, your teaching team are easy to get to know. We encourage an ‘open door’ policy so that you can speak to any lecturer whenever they are available.

The entry criteria below shows the qualification range within which the University will make offers. Most offers we make are at the top of the range, but we take all aspects of an application into consideration and applicants receive a personalised offer. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable.

Typical A-Level Offer

BCC - CDD including a Science based subject and excluding General Studies.

Typical Welsh BACC Offer

Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level to include a Science subject and exclude General Studies.

Typical BTEC Offer

Typical IB Offer

Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 29 overall including a score of 5 in a Science subject at Higher Level. You will also need to obtain a score of 5 or above in English at standard level.

Typical Access to HE Offer

Pass an Access to HE Diploma in a Science subject and obtain a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points

Additional Requirements

GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

International Entry Requirements

We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.

English Requirements

In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.

However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.

August
2019
- July
2020
Fees

Full-time UK and EU:
£9000

Full-time International:
£12600

August
2020
- July
2021
Fees

Full-time UK and EU: TBC

Full-time International: TBC

Additional Costs

Students have access to a wide range of resources including textbooks, publications, and computers in the University’s library and via online resources. In most cases they are more than sufficient to complete a course of study. Where there are additional costs, either obligatory or optional, these are detailed below. Of course students may choose to purchase their own additional personal resources/tools over and above those listed to support their studies at their own expense. All stationery and printing costs are at a student’s own expense.

*
Obligatory

Item

Cost

Kit/Equipment
*

Students undertaking courses that contain elements of outdoor fieldwork must wear appropriate outdoor clothing, which includes suitable wet weather gear, rugged boots/shoes and hat/gloves. The location and weather will determine the nature of clothing/footwear worn, and therefore the cost, and students will be informed of these requirements at the start of their studies. Please note that inappropriate clothing/footwear may prevent students from participating in an activity.
The School of Applied Sciences subsidises the cost of compulsory fieldwork in the UK and overseas. Although kept to a minimum, some overseas compulsory fieldwork may have additional costs applied. Optional fieldwork modules are typically at the cost to the student. Generally, students will be expected to pay for their food unless specifically included within the field course. Students will need to supply suitable field notebooks in order to take observations/notes during field courses. Please note that some fieldwork may require visas and vaccinations, which are at the cost to the student and will vary depending on individual circumstances.

Kit/Equipment
*

£0
-
£10

Media storage card and USB memory stick for Digital Production for Natural History.

Field Trip

£1400
-
£1600

Natural History Field Expedition presently conducted in Botswana and generally covers a 2 week period studying the ecology of the region plus training in tracking and field guide skills. The costs include ‘internal’ transport – generally between Johannesburg (S. Africa) and Mashatu (Botswana) – accommodation at the training camp plus accommodation the night before and after the camp (Johannesburg) – all food and soft drinks at the camp.

Placement
*

Students who successfully secure a placement in industry to complete their project would be expected to pay their own travel costs to and from the venue during the period of placement. The cost of this will of course vary and some students have also paid for accommodation close to their place of work for the duration of their placement.

UK and EU students

Apply via UCAS if you are a UK/EU residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.

International students

By graduation, those with a Natural History degree will have the professional skills to work for national parks, nature reserves, environmental and planning consultancies, national and international wildlife bodies, national, regional and local government, utility companies and regulatory agencies. Your analytical skills will give you excellent prospects in research and policy development. You can even make wildlife films to gain career options in visual media and environmental education. Typical roles include:

Environmental Consultant

Researcher

Video Producer

Conservation Officer/ Manager

Environmental Manager

Ecologist

Our Natural History course give students opportunities to gain practical experience and develop transferable skills to help them when they enter the world of work. For many students, a degree is an important step in achieving their career ambitions. Our courses generate motivated and able graduates with a range of key skills. They are highly valued by employers for the scope of their knowledge, and have excellent communication and critical thinking skills. Laboratory work and field projects ensure our students have strong research and team working skills.

Employability skills and work-based learning are built into our natural science courses. For example, we build in the practical skills that are outlined by the professional bodies. In the second year, research and report writing skills are developed alongside field skills and the writing of field reports. The final year gives you the opportunity to undertake work-based learning and to conduct project work.